ANOTHER game and yet another record low league crowd at St Mary’s.

As Saints have slipped down the Championship table, so the fans have disappeared.

Just 14,226 people watched last night’s game with Coventry.

That figure was helped by the 761 travelling supporters and season ticket holders that do not attend being counted.

As Saints’ form has dipped, more and more red seats have become visible and, again, there were far too many on display for everyone’s liking.

Nowadays St Mary’s is looking worryingly oversized.

That, sadly, is what happens when a team is not performing – and for too much of this season, and in recent years, Saints have been doing just that Although the crowd size might not have hinted at it, last night was a crucial match for the club.

The critical nature of these sorts of games, even at this early stage, was made clear when the pre-match announcer described it as a ‘desperately needed’ win.

Despite the attendance, there could be no diminishing the backing offered by those home fans present.

The Northam End is undoubtedly, and somewhat sadly, becoming an increasingly isolated pocket of support. But despite many around them disappearing, they continued to back the team throughout.

It didn’t take long for the Coventry fans to taunt them with chants of ‘going down’ but there was no doubt who the most vocal were throughout.

Perhaps sensing the fragile nature of their young side's confidence, the home fans kept positive all night.

Credit to them for that, especially in the wake of the unpopular decision to loan Stern John out and the dreadful 3-0 defeat at Swansea.

It would have been easy for them to turn on the team and the club as a whole, but they kept their focus firmly on the game and offering what encouragement they could.

They were rewarded with a bright opening half.

There was plenty of attractive football and a string of half chances, if little of great note, to warm the fans on a biting cold night.

As the half-time whistle blew, with the score at 0-0, Saints were greeted with a generous round of applause.

After the interval, the Northam End continued to play their part, belting out many songs of support.

They were finally rewarded when David McGoldrick gave Saints the lead.

There was a massive sense of relief, but almost immediately the sense of nerves began to grow both in the stands and on the pitch.

Unfortunately for the home fans, those nerves were justified as Clinton Morrison equalised soon after Once again you couldn't fault the home support, as they got behind their side with chats of ‘come on you reds’ as the game restarted.

The only slight murmur of discontent was the injury time substitution of Andrew Surman for Bradley Wright-Phillips, which Saints fans felt wasted valuable time.

But with fewer and fewer fans returning with every passing game, many were probably left wondering as they left just how many will be back next time.

Hopefully the decent display will help arrest some of the decline in attendances.

But there is only one thing that will get the fans back and that is a winning Saints side.

And for many more reasons than just that, Saints must start finding those victories ...